Getting my first ar 15 and need help picking one up. I can't decide between the ddv5 or sig 516. Any suggestions?

Daniel Defense

+1 on the DD

Daniel Defense, had mine for almost a year.

Daniel defense makes a fine rifle but I suspect that all the DD votes will come from someone who has never owned a Sig 516.

They're seriously great rifles.

I know you're not asking it and I hope not to open a can of worms here but the two rifles you're deciding between are also DI vs Piston platforms.

Both have their merits and both sides of the argument swear theirs is the best.

If I were given the choice between the two rifles you listed, I would take the Sig 516 without hesitation.

Thanks you guy's for the advice. I'll decide and post a pic once I get it.

Get the DD.  I own the same DD model you're interested in and I don't regret getting it.  The Sig will be cleaner due to it's piston, but that's also a drawback.  The DD is more flexible and modifiable - if you want a keymod handguard for your DD you just buy it and install it.  If you want a new handguard for your Sig you'll need to get a new piston and barrel if the handguard lengths are different.

Between the two, I'd choose the DDM4 V5.  That was the first AR that I bought.  I've since sold it, but because I had since bought other guns that I shoot more often, so when a friend wanted to buy one from me, I chose to sell him the DD. 

What are you looking for with your first AR?  Just something to learn about the AR platform and general range fun?  Competition?  Home/self defense?  Those were all questions that I was asked when I was looking for my first AR and to behonest, the answer was "I just wanted one".  Eventually, I was looking into things like rails, optics, sights, grips, etc.   Your intended use will help you decide on many of those.  One word of advise is to get it and shot it lots before really going too far overboard on accessories.  When I got my first AR, I had a whole list of things I wanted to get and wanted to do to the gun.  Over half of that list never materialized and many things that I did buy or try, ended up not working as I learned more about what I wanted the gun for.  Of course your intended use can change over time and it's fun to try out this or that accessory, but that often comes at a price. 

In any case, let us know what you decide on! 

I own  a DD, and I love it.  I prefer a DI gun to a piston gun however.

However, if I were to buy a piston gun, the Sig 516 would be on the short list of applicants.

I think as a first time AR owner, you should get a DI gun.  Eventually you will want another AR (they are addictive like that), then you can look into a 516, or another well made piston gun.

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I wanted to get a rifle so my son and I can spend some time together.  I decided to get the smith&wesson m&p15 22 for him. I then wanted one for myself,  I researched youtube and then I became fascinated with the ar system.  I own two handguns but never a rifle.  I soon spent tons of hours online doing my research and narrowed it by two guns. I then realized I might just buy more than one and keep a collection. I guess no more golfing on the weekends anymore. Btw I noticed that gun brokers got some low prices. Did anyone buy guns online before? 

I wanted to get a rifle so my son and I can spend some time together.  I decided to get the smith&wesson m&p15 22 for him. I then wanted one for myself,  I researched youtube and then I became fascinated with the ar system.  I own two handguns but never a rifle.  I soon spent tons of hours online doing my research and narrowed it by two guns. I then realized I might just buy more than one and keep a collection. I guess no more golfing on the weekends anymore. Btw I noticed that gun brokers got some low prices. Did anyone buy guns online before?

I bought one, you just need an FFL willing to do the transfer.  The only thing about online is make sure after the FFL, Shipping and all that it's still cheaper than just going local.  Once you find out what you want call places like OGC, X-Ring, SEC and find out the difference before buying from GB.

Personally, I'd take the sig 516 in a heart beat. I run piston guns, and you can't beat a sig. You can check out honolulu firearms and range. They had a sig 516 on the shelf this past weekend.

What's your budget?

Research direct impingement vs piston.  The system you choose will decide which gun is for you.

I bought one, you just need an FFL willing to do the transfer.  The only thing about online is make sure after the FFL, Shipping and all that it's still cheaper than just going local.  Once you find out what you want call places like OGC, X-Ring, SEC and find out the difference before buying from GB.

True.

Ogc and X-ring have actually matched online price plus shipping and FFL transfer for me, before.

Saved me a lot of time.

If you don't mind cleaning it after ever range day then go ahead an get the DD. 

If you hate cleaning as myself get a 516 I guarantee you won't regret it

I have a bunch of sigs one of them being a m400 enhanced, sigs DI ar-15 never had any issues with it. Plus there customer service is top notch had an issue with my sig 1911 free shipping free repair and turn around time was less than a week. I would pick the 516 if I had to choose between the two.

I would opt for the DD rifle.  For performance I do not prefer an M4/AR design in a forward piston set up.  Many people think it might be nitpicking but I don't like the nose heavy balance on the AR/M4 platform and I don't prefer the recoil impulse either.  But this is preference and most shooters won't notice a big difference in these area's.  There are a few other reasons, but these are the 2 main reasons why I prefer DI vs. piston in this weapon platform.

If you don't mind cleaning it after ever range day then go ahead an get the DD. 

If you hate cleaning as myself get a 516 I guarantee you won't regret it

To the OP-  come to the next HDF shoot and I will be more than happy to let you shoot my Noveske AR15, I guarantee many other members will be more than happy to let you try their AR's both piston and DI. That would be the best way to get an idea of what you want to buy. 

Also I know you have to regularly clean your firearms but why does everyone think a DI ar15 has to be clean enough to eat off it or it will jam or malfunction? People do way more damage to their firearms by over cleaning than they do by shooting it. WTF?Shane went almost a year and 1200 rounds without cleaning or lubing his DI AR15, his AR still shoots like a champ. I do minimal cleaning on my DI AR and it still shoots as smooth as when I got it.

Bottom Line - get what you want, love it, shoot it than shoot it some more, spend more time shooting it than you do cleaning it